Happy Thursday!
There’s something I’ve been thinking about for awhile and I’ve finally decided to announce my decision on the blog. Currently my diet doesn’t contain much meat – I probably only eat it 1-3 times per week. I think that grass-fed, local meat can be a good choice for some, but unfortunately that’s not always available or within my budget. I know how bad factory-farmed meat is for the environment AND my health and I think that’s what I’m getting at most restaurants/grocery stores. So…I’ve decided to go vegetarian for the next month. I hope my 30 day challenge will inspire me to get more creative in the kitchen and be more thoughtful about my food choices. I also want to see how 30 days of no meat affects my health and energy levels - I’m ready for a positive change! I have a slew of yummy veggie recipes up my sleeve and I’m looking forward to my challenge. I’m going to focus on quality whole-food proteins like legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, dairy, and maybe some seafood and soy products. I also know I’ll have to be extra vigilent about my iron intake (I’m slightly iron deficient). Any other advice for me??
Some “food for thought” that influenced my decision -
Ok, now back tracking to Wednesday…
I woke up to another amazing morning of sunshine and cool temps. After the usual coffee, Alma and I headed to Central Park for a 40 minute run (partly on the dirt trails of the Bridle Path). My hamstring felt twinge-y after about 2 miles, but I stretched and foam-rolled afterwards and am trying to keep on top of the tightness.
Once I got to my desk, breakfast was a chopped up apple (I used a plastic knife to cut the apple…pretty ghetto), a vanilla Oikos greek yogurt, and about 2 servings of Nature’s Path Mesa Sunrise. Yum!
Lunch was enjoyed outside in the sunshine – a very colorful cafeteria salad!
- romaine, carrots, red onion, mushroom
- feta and 2 Tbs balsamic vinaigrette
- tasting of coleslaw
- 4 (!!) different type of beans – pinto, black, chickpea, and kidney
The rest of the afternoon passed fairly quickly and I snacked on some Mesa Sunrise corn flakes straight out of the box.
After a long walk home (it’s about 3.5 miles from the office to my apartment) and some more unpacking, it was time for dinner!
I wasn’t in the mood to cook, so I prepared one of my favorite, go-to meals – toasted Ezekiel sprouted grain bread with peanut butter, strawberry jam, and sliced banana. I think that I could eat this every single day without getting bored!
Â
Dessert was four (um, yes, stress = carb cravings) peanut butter and jelly cookies from my sweet co-worker.
Obviously I love peanut butter and jelly. Maybe too much.
Beginner runner? Read these tips on how to maximize your run!
